larryepage Loc: North Texas area

On purpose. They are not good cameras for someone coming from the SLR world. They are OK for someone starting from scratch. I've seen the frustration they cause multiple times. The OP is certainly free to buy whatever he wants.

LittleBit Loc: St. Louis, MO

How do I switch back and forth between the digital site and the new film site. I subscribed to the film site, but I don't see a link to click between the two sites.

BebuLamar

I also dislike the D3xxx and D5xxx mainly because they have only 1 command dial. It's more difficult to use in manual mode.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Budget is a critical factor in what you should do as is what you shoot/what lenses you really need. Without considering either of those two, I would consider on of Nikon's newer Z series of cameras and lenses. Instead of one jump to Digital, make two jumps at once, moving right to mirrorless. Go learn things before making your final decision! Best of luck!

Blues Dude

I was in your shoes about 2 years ago: switching from my Nikon FM to digital. I'm not interested in video, so I decided to buy a Nikon-refurbished Df from Adorama and have been very happy with it. It takes all my old film lenses and I've bought some more from KEH.com. Film lenses are very comparable to digital ones, but much cheaper and you can still use digital ones with the Df.
I also have two Vivitar 283 flashes, but I haven't been able to trigger them from the Df. So I bought a a Flashpoint digital flash from Adorama.
I'm retired with lots of spare time, so feel free to PM me if you have ay questions or just want to chat.
Regards, Marty

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

When I got my first dslr I bought a used Nikon D3100 on ebay. You can get one for $100 to $200. An advantage was it can use all of the old Nikon manual focus lenses (AIS and Pre-AIS) in manual mode. The one exception is the manual fisheye lens. Many of those old Nikkor manual focus lenses are quite cheap on ebay, anywhere from $40 to $150. With the D3100 you can magnify the subject on the lcd screen, which can help with manual focus. For auto focus, any of the newer Nikon AF-S lenses will work fine. A used 18-55mm AF-S lens on ebay is less than $100. The AF-S 50mm f1.8 is about $150 used on ebay. With a DX sensor like the D3100, there is a 1.5x crop factor, so multiply the focal length by 1.5 to get a 35mm equivalent focal length. For example, a 50mm lens will have the same apparent focal length (area of view) of a 75mm lens on a full frame or 35mm film camera. That makes your wide angle lens look less wide, but your telephoto lens more telephoto. A big advantage of the DSLR is you can take unlimited shots and just delete the ones that don't come out. Also you can crop and post process your pics on the computer.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If the desire is to use / maintain the film lenses, the mirrorless Z6II or Z7II bodies are a far a better choice, even if more expensive. Once any film / SLR shooter begins experiencing the magic of the 10x on-demand zoom in the EVF and the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) for all their lenses, wasting time on an intermediary DSLR jump will be revealed as folly.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

That's a minimum of 10 to 30 times the price of the used D3100. $100 to $200 vs $2,000 to $3,000 for those cameras.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I agree, but the D3#### and D5### series cameras aren't practical / effective platforms for our OP's existing technology. Then, as one marches up the product line and / or considers a DSLR as just a stepping stone, going mirrorless the first time delivers technology excellence from the very first click.

Blues Dude

Aha! CHG_CANON's nefarious plan is revealed! First, he wants to scare the OP with the high cost of staying faithful to Nikon. Then he will casually suggest the OP switch brands to none other than Canon!! Oh what a clever rascal he is! 😲

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I gave Nikon options, the idea being the FTZ adapter will support the old lenses as manual focus and any new digital or newer AF-S / AF-P Nikon lenses as options / familiarity.

The cheaper mirrorless approach is a used Sony full frame model, as Sony prices their equipment for the greater benefit of mankind.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

Welcome aboard.
I was in your position 4 years ago.
I had been using point and shooters like Sony and Canon which worked very well but my main baby was the Nikon N80 film camera and I had two lenses, a 70-300 tele and a ? - 55mm.
I realized it was time to move up to a DSLR which I could use my lenses on.
I initially was looking at the Fuji and Lumix lines but realized I need to learn more basic photography.
So, I bought a used Nikon D200 for 147 dollars with two batteries and charger from a lady who was professional photographer and had the camera serviced yearly by Nikon. She was the original owner too. So, my entry cost was low and my lenses work fine on the 200. Yes it is a 10 mega pixie but shoots great pictures for a 2006 model camera. I still have and use it.
I have been so happy that I bought a 80-400mm nikon lens from a member here on this site and WOW is it nice.
You do not have spend a ton of money to take great pictures.
Members here, when asking for advice are really helpful, but !!!! some of them love to spend your money if you have a lot. Me, I am retired and not rich. The D200 is still my baby and works well. I am saddling up the mule as I write you to go out and shoot some lovely Bluebonnets springing up everywhere here in Texas.
Used or refurb cameras can be cost easy on your wallet.
That is my story because I was in your shoes too.
Again, welcome aboard and enjoy the ride.
Sincerely;
Bruce.

richard74account

I would only use the Vivitar and Sunpack flashes with a radio remote. Putting them on a DSLR or an electroniic
SLR like the Canon EOS series film cameras could fry them. They have trigger voltages much lower than those units. I have two Sunpack's and one tested at 14.5 volts DC. The early Vivitar 283 units were quite high. The later not as much but still to high for a modern camera. Nikon has some reasonably priced DSLR's. Good Luck in your hunt. Oh, the EOS series film cameras had a 3 or a 5 volt DC trigger voltage if memory serves me.

Urnst Loc: Brownsville, Texas

I made the switch from Nikon film to digital with a used Nikon D90 which I still use. Reliable and inexpensive used. Great images! Try it.

Urnst Loc: Brownsville, Texas

And since it's a Nikon you can use your old lenses.